Your Car as Cover: Into the Fray Episode 68

Published on June 29, 2015
Duration: 5:20

This guide, presented by Kevin Mlowski of Concealed Carry Magazine, details how to effectively use a vehicle for cover during a deadly force encounter. It emphasizes the difference between cover and concealment, highlighting the engine compartment as prime cover. The instruction covers tactical positioning, awareness of auto glass penetration, and utilizing the vehicle's structure, including wheels, for maximum protection. It also touches on advanced tactics like ricochet shots to a threat's lower extremities.

Quick Summary

The engine compartment or engine block is the most effective part of a car for ballistic cover, as it's designed to stop incoming rounds. Always use cover that stops bullets, not just conceals you. Be aware that car doors are unreliable, and auto glass can be penetrated, posing a risk from both bullets and shards.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction: Vehicle Cover
  2. 00:14Statistics on Vehicle Shootings
  3. 00:47Cover vs. Concealment Explained
  4. 01:01Engine Compartment as Prime Cover
  5. 01:18Training with Blue Guns
  6. 02:21Using the Back of the Vehicle for Cover
  7. 02:38Bullet Penetration of Auto Glass
  8. 03:34Why Car Doors Are Unreliable Cover
  9. 03:57Exposed Areas and Ricochet Tactics
  10. 04:51Keeping Cover to the Ground
  11. 05:02Conclusion and Call to Action

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most effective part of a car to use for ballistic cover?

The engine compartment or engine block area is considered prime cover, as it is designed to withstand significant forces and is unlikely to be penetrated by common firearm rounds. Always position yourself down and behind this cover.

Can bullets penetrate car doors and windows?

Car doors are unreliable for cover, as they may not stop bullets consistently. Auto glass can be penetrated by bullets, and while accuracy may be reduced, it poses a significant risk, along with flying glass shards.

What's the difference between cover and concealment when using a vehicle?

Cover is anything that will stop an incoming round, such as the engine block or the solid parts of the vehicle's frame. Concealment, like hiding behind the car's outline, only breaks up your visibility and does not offer ballistic protection.

Are there any advanced tactics for using a car in a gunfight?

Yes, if a threat is behind a car, you can aim for the ground at the base of the vehicle. This can cause a ricochet or fragment that may strike the threat's foot or lower leg, potentially incapacitating them or giving you an advantage.

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